Eremurus, Foxtail lily, Desert candle….oh how I love you. Why will you not bloom for me?
These blooming Eremurus were photographed in June of last year at Dancing Oaks Nursery in Monmouth, OR. Look at those tall bloom spikes!
I bought my first Eremurus at the spring 2009 HPSO Sale, that’s 2 summers of hoping I might see the tall glorious flower spike…only to watch the foliage shrivel and disappear sometime in July without a single bloom having made an appearance.
This year I’ve been given a bonus! Instead of just one little tip of foliage busting out of the soil there are three! That triples my chances of seeing a bloom, right?
Like the plant addict I am I figured more plants equal an increased chance for blooms. So I just purchased Eremurus Cleopatra bulbs at Garden Fever, to put in the front garden. I’ve heard that fall is the time to plant Eremurus, but spring seems to be when I find them available.
Have you grown Eremurus? Have they bloomed? What is your secret?
Eremurus, Foxtail lily, Desert candle….oh how I love you. Why will you not bloom for me? 
These blooming Eremurus were photographed in June of last year at Dancing Oaks Nursery in Monmouth, OR. Look at those tall bloom spikes! 
I bought my first Eremurus at the spring 2009 HPSO Sale, that’s 2 summers of hoping I might see the tall glorious flower spike…only to watch the foliage shrivel and disappear sometime in July without a single bloom having made an appearance. 
This year I’ve been given a bonus! Instead of just one little tip of foliage busting out of the soil there are three! That triples my chances of seeing a bloom, right? 
Like the plant addict I am I figured more plants equal an increased chance for blooms. So I just purchased Eremurus Cleopatra bulbs at Garden Fever, to put in the front garden. I’ve heard that fall is the time to plant Eremurus, but spring seems to be when I find them available. 
Have you grown Eremurus? Have they bloomed? What is your secret?
I planted some bulbs last fall and I've got my fingers crossed. I didn't know they weren't a sure thing. I've been eyeing the photos of the Dancing Oaks ones too and plan on getting some of theirs if mine work out this year. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI had some that bloomed for a couple of years, then disappeared. My 'Cleopatra' did famously the first (last) year and are multiplying like yours. They were mail order, planted in the fall, in a berm with filtered sun. Too soon to tell if they will follow the pattern of the first batch, but my hopes are high.
ReplyDeleteLove them!!!! Hope you get some blooms this year.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos!! I believe that good, quick, drainage is key to their survival!
ReplyDeleteMine flowered beautifully the second year, which was last year; I had to move it ...to dig up the dreaded BISHOPS WEED! fingers crossed
ReplyDeleteI tried some back in 2003 or 2004 and they didn't bloom. I would love to figure out how to make them work so let us know if you figure out what to do.
ReplyDeleteRyan, well this will be a good test then, since you planted yours in the fall.
ReplyDeletericki, I'll be planting the 'Cleopatra' on a slope so they'll get better drainage. Perhaps your berm method was the key.
Megan, thanks!
Lauren, isn't it always! Clay be damned.
Linda, mine too (fingers I mean)
Ficurinia, if they bloom you will definitely be hearing about it!
Oh yeah...I tried growing these last year and pretty much the same thing happened...and they haven't returned this spring :-( I'm pretty sure drainage is the key (as I believe they originate from desert-like conditions). I've resigned myself to enjoying them in other's gardens...they are certainly spectacular when they are happy!
ReplyDeleteNo experience with them but those are great looking spikes. Good luck with your three babies!
ReplyDeleteMaybe this will be the year? Maybe they just take a little time getting established? Hopefully that's the case. I'm always impressed when I see them, and I'll be even more impressed when they're in your garden. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy garden buddy Carol just bought this same package of Eremurus at Garland Nursery. My fingers are crossed for both of you. Such beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteI had two root crowns bought a few years back. planted them in spring. Nothing happened. They were there, not dead, but no green leaves. It was a droughty year so i watered them a lot. my mistake?
ReplyDeleteNow they are def. gone.
Calin
Yes, yes, drainage!
ReplyDeleteDuring early spring find the spot that stays cold longest. That's a suggestion of where to plant the Eremus. Dig the hole, put a hill of sand in the middle and drape the legs of the plant down over it, then fill.
The point is not to let the plant to emerge too early. And to have quick drainage.
Re blooming: bone meal bone meal bone meal.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you maybe my plants will grow and be strong enough to bloom this first year. I just bought a bag of 10 today. I have loved them since the first one I ever saw, so I just couldn't pass them up. I will plant them the end of next month and now I know to plant them in a sandy mixture with added bone meal. One plant I think will go great with these is a red yucca, and possibly a blue. They are also desert plants so they should go together. Maybe underplant with Sedum. I hope everyone has good luck with these showy flowers.
ReplyDeleteI bought a bag of 15 of them from "Easy to Grow Bulbs" on-line company, in 2010. They have not bloomed yet, and with every spring going by, less of them show up in the spring. At first I couldn't ignore the irony in "Easy to Grow Bulbs" name.
ReplyDeleteI have only two shoots coming up right now, ie - one bulb is still alive. They shoots are looking their very best and this one was planted in a container, with very good fluffy dirt.
I will not give up. I'm going to get another bag and try again.